I learn more and more about brain injuries every day. They are elusive. I think we have hit another milestone in our recovery. I also think I must reiterate that it is a recovery process for everyone. In our initial days at the Roger C. Peace Center (the rehab) we were told that brain injuries are a marathon. No one said, they are really the Iron Man triathlon.
Don't get me wrong, we are truly blessed and we all know it but after 2.8 years (give or take) Allie is beginning to grieve and that is a good thing but painful for all none the less. Interestingly, Allie has been snowed in her house, without a vehicle and without a computer for the last three days. This, I am sure has given her a lot of time to think and to be quiet with only her thoughts, her kitty and a small television. No distractions. I think we could all benefit from a stay like that.
She has come to understand and more importantly admit that she does have defecits in certain areas. What a painful but necessary realization. Now true healing can begin. So for as sad as it can be, it has regnited a mission. Now we can truly once again take the next step towards Full Recovery.
Please continue your prayers for Allie, Paige, Rachel and thier families.
Allie's Dad
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Tuesday Evening, Nov. 17, 2009
Hi All
Well it has been two weeks that Allie has been living on her own and things seem to be going really well. She is doing her own shopping and cooking and handling all of the chores of living on your own. Beyond your wildest dreams? Full Recovery - Never a Doubt.
Today she also got a job at the Dollar Tree and starts tomorrow. The best part is that she took the initiative and did it on her own. Since every day is a new day, I live with hope. The hope that she will continue to grow and get better and better ever day..
Thank you for all of your continued prayers. Nancy and I love all of you.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Allie's Dad
Monday, November 9, 2009
Monday Afternoon, November 9, 2009
Amazing things continue to happen every day and with each event comes a tear of joy and a heartful of grattitude. Our little girl has taken spread her wings and has moved into a two bedroom cabin we own about twenty minutes from our office or fourty minutes from our homes.
It's wierd but is sometyhing that had to happen. Allie has so much passion for life and for being a "normal teenager" if there is such a thing that deep down she knew she needed to be on her own. I think that by moving into the cabin she will grow even further and faster than I ever cold have imagined. This is a true reality check. She will learn how to budget money and make decisions and reap either the benefits or the consequences of her decisions and that is something she needs because Nancy and I are so protective that we micromanage every moment in her life and the time for all has got to come to an end so she can grow up.
I am so proud of her. She is handling things like a champ. First our cabin is in a place which has people around it but none of her freinds. It is in the beautiful mountains on two acres with a creek running through it so she has plenty of room and I am hoping that she will take pride in ownersip and will make it hers. She got a little grey striped kitten she calls Zebra or "Z" for short and this is a blessing too because it not only gives her someone to love and keep her company but it also teaches her responsibility. This is such a blessing and she is learning real life lessons. She gets a budget for gas and food and a little for play and she now has to fugure out how to make it last (we'll see) but she is learning and making decisions. Do I go back to town when I only have a little gas? Do I eat or put in more gas.... All of the things we have all gone through and had to figure out
So how long will it last? Who cares? IT has been a week and she is showing no signs of being needy or of breaking down. She has visited the house twice and comes over once a week for her neurofeedback training. I thinl she loves having her space and being able to come to the office or the house and visit and then go home to her own space. I thank God for his grace and for everyones prayers. Please continue to pray for Allie and for our good friends Paige Cook and Rachel Juliano, we love them so much and eveyone needs your prayers.
Full Recovery - Never a Doubt
Allie's Dad
It's wierd but is sometyhing that had to happen. Allie has so much passion for life and for being a "normal teenager" if there is such a thing that deep down she knew she needed to be on her own. I think that by moving into the cabin she will grow even further and faster than I ever cold have imagined. This is a true reality check. She will learn how to budget money and make decisions and reap either the benefits or the consequences of her decisions and that is something she needs because Nancy and I are so protective that we micromanage every moment in her life and the time for all has got to come to an end so she can grow up.
I am so proud of her. She is handling things like a champ. First our cabin is in a place which has people around it but none of her freinds. It is in the beautiful mountains on two acres with a creek running through it so she has plenty of room and I am hoping that she will take pride in ownersip and will make it hers. She got a little grey striped kitten she calls Zebra or "Z" for short and this is a blessing too because it not only gives her someone to love and keep her company but it also teaches her responsibility. This is such a blessing and she is learning real life lessons. She gets a budget for gas and food and a little for play and she now has to fugure out how to make it last (we'll see) but she is learning and making decisions. Do I go back to town when I only have a little gas? Do I eat or put in more gas.... All of the things we have all gone through and had to figure out
So how long will it last? Who cares? IT has been a week and she is showing no signs of being needy or of breaking down. She has visited the house twice and comes over once a week for her neurofeedback training. I thinl she loves having her space and being able to come to the office or the house and visit and then go home to her own space. I thank God for his grace and for everyones prayers. Please continue to pray for Allie and for our good friends Paige Cook and Rachel Juliano, we love them so much and eveyone needs your prayers.
Full Recovery - Never a Doubt
Allie's Dad
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Sunday Evening, October 11th, 2009
Hi Everyone
Well it sure has been a long time since we have had an Allie update and it is good. In fact, it is unbelievable. Full Recovery - Never a Doubt.
I believe I have already written about Allie's last accident back in January and how we were led to Neurofeedback and I thank God that we were. It has made all of the difference in the world in her recovery.
As I write, it is as if things are normal here at our home. Allie is doing great and is making huge strides everyday. In fact, if you met her on the street and did not know she was ever in an accident, you may not be able to tell. She is driving again and is attending our local community college. Believe it or not, she is taking a full schedule - 13 credits. Unbelieveable!
She has become the most amazing person. She is happy and very okay with where she is at this time. She had changed her major and is now declaring herself as elementary education. She loves little kids and they love her. She is beautiful and creative and happy. She has taken up beading and has gotten quite good at it. She started her own little business called Skye Creations and sells her jewelry in a few local shops. She is also working in our office a few hours a week. We keep her busy and she is able to stay focused for long stretches of time. Actually, one of the very few deficiencies is still her short term memory has problems every now and again. Whose dosen't have that problem.
Allie is really fitting in again and is starting to reconnect with friends from high school who are now in college with her.
Nancy and I are finding life is becoming normal again. Allie is not nearly as needy as she use to be and is usually out of the house with friends or just doing Allie things which leaves Nancy and I free to do things together - without worrying about getting a phone call. That is a great feeling.
So everything is going great here. We still pray every night for further recovery, for all of us.
Thanks for your continued prayers.
Allie's Dad
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Tuesday Morning, August 18th
Good Morning Everyone
Well it has been a long time since my last blog. Although it is never far from my mind, I now have a tebdancy to hold off with the writing in the hopes that the story has ended and there will be nothing to share, but the truth is is that this is a living document that will never end while I am still of this world.
Whenever I think of Allie, I smile and give thanks for how far we have come. One could look at what has happened in a pholosophical and theorethical fashion as I choose to drawing my stregnth from God and an understanding of theory or what is possible. I also draw strength from the Universal and metaphysical laws of the universe, meaning that everything happens in accordance with a master plan. So what happened had to happen and what is happening happens with the steps that we take to drive it in a particular direction. So why do I write these feelings about what we do and how we feel. In order to possible help someone who may be going through what we did and are going through.
Allie is finishing up a 5 day stay at her nana's house in NY and is now on her way to the airport to come homw. She just text messaged and said she wanted to live there. Nana has that effect on people butcome home she must. Allie begins college again in a few days. Incredibly she is scheduled to take 13 credit which is fantastic and while I will be there rooting for her and helping in every way, I am once again not attached to the outcome. Everyday she is becoming more and more mature and it is all of our dreams to see her through this year of school and then tpo see her transfer to one with a dorm so she will live on her own. Doable? Very doable! She is awesome. One of the things she has taken a passion to is jewlery making and has created quite a number of beaded product which I would swear came from a store but I watched her make them. She is also driving again by herself so if you are in Brevard, watch out Smile, smile.
Nancy and I were talking this morning about her stay in the hospital during breakfast this morning and as we relived it we once again became comitted to getting the message. out to how people should protect themselves and their loved ones during that time and discussed ways we can help. Unfortunately the further removed you are from a situation the less memory you have of it and the intensity of your desire goes down. I promise you I will not lose either and although things may not have materialized yet the way I planned or sopke of originally, that does not mean they will not, it only means that at that time I lacked the understanding of the process it takes to recovery and how long it would occupy us once along with needing and wanting to give time and love to our other child. It will happen because of this blog (all my notes are in it) and because it needs to.
Before I end this long message, I again want to say to all of my friends out there who are going through a similar situation, stay with God, stay the course and don't give up! Study on what is happening, don't just believe the guy in the white coat, be proactive, don't wait for the nurses or expect anyone else to be on your side - you are in charge so take charge, be open to alternative methods, heck they don't know everything - if alternatives did not work they would not be here,
Again I believe neurofeedback has been a blessing for Allie and has created the change necessary to bring her to the next level.
Create a journal of what happened, and what continues to happen on a daily basis. I have never to this day re-read mine but I will someday, however I am so glad it is there to remind me how strong my love for my family and friend is and how strong my belief in God is. It show me how We took charge to help our daughter when other did not. It serves as a reminder that we have an obligation to help others.
Life is good.
Allie's Dad
Well it has been a long time since my last blog. Although it is never far from my mind, I now have a tebdancy to hold off with the writing in the hopes that the story has ended and there will be nothing to share, but the truth is is that this is a living document that will never end while I am still of this world.
Whenever I think of Allie, I smile and give thanks for how far we have come. One could look at what has happened in a pholosophical and theorethical fashion as I choose to drawing my stregnth from God and an understanding of theory or what is possible. I also draw strength from the Universal and metaphysical laws of the universe, meaning that everything happens in accordance with a master plan. So what happened had to happen and what is happening happens with the steps that we take to drive it in a particular direction. So why do I write these feelings about what we do and how we feel. In order to possible help someone who may be going through what we did and are going through.
Allie is finishing up a 5 day stay at her nana's house in NY and is now on her way to the airport to come homw. She just text messaged and said she wanted to live there. Nana has that effect on people butcome home she must. Allie begins college again in a few days. Incredibly she is scheduled to take 13 credit which is fantastic and while I will be there rooting for her and helping in every way, I am once again not attached to the outcome. Everyday she is becoming more and more mature and it is all of our dreams to see her through this year of school and then tpo see her transfer to one with a dorm so she will live on her own. Doable? Very doable! She is awesome. One of the things she has taken a passion to is jewlery making and has created quite a number of beaded product which I would swear came from a store but I watched her make them. She is also driving again by herself so if you are in Brevard, watch out Smile, smile.
Nancy and I were talking this morning about her stay in the hospital during breakfast this morning and as we relived it we once again became comitted to getting the message. out to how people should protect themselves and their loved ones during that time and discussed ways we can help. Unfortunately the further removed you are from a situation the less memory you have of it and the intensity of your desire goes down. I promise you I will not lose either and although things may not have materialized yet the way I planned or sopke of originally, that does not mean they will not, it only means that at that time I lacked the understanding of the process it takes to recovery and how long it would occupy us once along with needing and wanting to give time and love to our other child. It will happen because of this blog (all my notes are in it) and because it needs to.
Before I end this long message, I again want to say to all of my friends out there who are going through a similar situation, stay with God, stay the course and don't give up! Study on what is happening, don't just believe the guy in the white coat, be proactive, don't wait for the nurses or expect anyone else to be on your side - you are in charge so take charge, be open to alternative methods, heck they don't know everything - if alternatives did not work they would not be here,
Again I believe neurofeedback has been a blessing for Allie and has created the change necessary to bring her to the next level.
Create a journal of what happened, and what continues to happen on a daily basis. I have never to this day re-read mine but I will someday, however I am so glad it is there to remind me how strong my love for my family and friend is and how strong my belief in God is. It show me how We took charge to help our daughter when other did not. It serves as a reminder that we have an obligation to help others.
Life is good.
Allie's Dad
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
June 16th, 2009 morning
Things continue to progress and Allie continues her journey to Full Recovery. Every day we notice new changes in her behavior, her actions and her drive. In the past she did not notice any deficits in herself and she though she had reached a state of Full Recovery but now more thanever she is the one who is pusing and driving herself. She may not realize why but she is talking more about going away to college but she understands that she has to raise her academic bar. Must be starange but just like I can not really remember life before the accident I am sure she can not either. Fortunately I believe she remembers just enough to motivate her or she is seeing her friends move on and she wants to be a part of it. Cool, what ever way it is foward progress.
Huge leap in faith and maturity last week. Allie flew to Florida all by herself to spend a week with my sister Roni. Now I know that sounds like a little thing but after shat she has been though I was definitely nervous as time can get away from her and then switching gates..... would she make it to the gate in time, what if her flight was late and she missed her connector? There were a million different scenarios playing out in my head. What if she did not have a good time there or had an emotional moment or seizure or whatever? Would she take her medicine, or drink alcohol (not good for seizures) but innately I know she would do well and she did.
She loves her job at the assisted living facility and is looking to get more hours. She is learning to understand the value of money. When to spend and when to save. She like to spend better but who doesn't? As an added therapy we have been taking her to jewlery making classes and she loves it and is really good at it. As we try to help her with career choices and we believe in doing something that makes you happy not just makes you money we sat down and opened up a round table discussion as to what Allie likes to do and her favorite thing was always arts and crafts. Ever since she was a little girl she loved beads and cutting paper and that stuff so possibly jewlery making? After her first class she came out with a bracelet she made (two and a half hours of beading, not that is what I call therapy for her hands and hand eye coordination) and it was beautiful. Could have actually put it in a store and sold it. Next a necklance and today is her third lesson and she is way excited.
We will be registering her for another semester of college this week and we are hoping for the best. She will be doign two acadenim classes and two electives. She wanted to do four, I was thinking more three. We will do four.
Right ow Allie is doing her Neurofeedback and again I will say it is this training that has made all of the difference in her and I am recommending it to all of my friends. Seek out a therapist in your area nd try it for at least twenty sessions. Nothing to lose, everything to gain.
We are grateful and thankful to God and every person we have met on this journey. For whatever reason this was meant to be our journey so we gratefully accept it and the challenges that come with it and thank God for making us better people in the process.
Love and Recovery
Allie's Dad
Huge leap in faith and maturity last week. Allie flew to Florida all by herself to spend a week with my sister Roni. Now I know that sounds like a little thing but after shat she has been though I was definitely nervous as time can get away from her and then switching gates..... would she make it to the gate in time, what if her flight was late and she missed her connector? There were a million different scenarios playing out in my head. What if she did not have a good time there or had an emotional moment or seizure or whatever? Would she take her medicine, or drink alcohol (not good for seizures) but innately I know she would do well and she did.
She loves her job at the assisted living facility and is looking to get more hours. She is learning to understand the value of money. When to spend and when to save. She like to spend better but who doesn't? As an added therapy we have been taking her to jewlery making classes and she loves it and is really good at it. As we try to help her with career choices and we believe in doing something that makes you happy not just makes you money we sat down and opened up a round table discussion as to what Allie likes to do and her favorite thing was always arts and crafts. Ever since she was a little girl she loved beads and cutting paper and that stuff so possibly jewlery making? After her first class she came out with a bracelet she made (two and a half hours of beading, not that is what I call therapy for her hands and hand eye coordination) and it was beautiful. Could have actually put it in a store and sold it. Next a necklance and today is her third lesson and she is way excited.
We will be registering her for another semester of college this week and we are hoping for the best. She will be doign two acadenim classes and two electives. She wanted to do four, I was thinking more three. We will do four.
Right ow Allie is doing her Neurofeedback and again I will say it is this training that has made all of the difference in her and I am recommending it to all of my friends. Seek out a therapist in your area nd try it for at least twenty sessions. Nothing to lose, everything to gain.
We are grateful and thankful to God and every person we have met on this journey. For whatever reason this was meant to be our journey so we gratefully accept it and the challenges that come with it and thank God for making us better people in the process.
Love and Recovery
Allie's Dad
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Last Tuesday in April, 2009
A true day of gratitude. Every now and then, Allie and I decide to go visit the nurses and doctors at Greenville Memorial Hospital. It is not only a reminder to us of how far we have come but also serves to let the docotrs and nurses see that their good work does produce great results (sometimes, not every thing or nothing is in our control) and it also helps some of the people we meet along the way in there; people who are suffering on their own and are given a glimpse of hope and possibility by her presence. Today I think I went mostly for me and may just be the last time we make this trip. We will still seek to inspire but I no longer think I need the (in some wierd way) comfort of being there. When you are somewhere for so long it becomes comfortable there and almost feel safe in some strange way. I personally feel free and safe and on the road to full recovery myself along with every member of my family. I no longer think that Allie will ever need their services again and that life is really going to be okay.
It was inspiring at the hospital today. Not only inspiring but validating and in many ways the validation came from being recognized by many of the nurses and doctors for the control we had at the hospital and for the way we handled our daughters recovery. It is not that validation is needed but it feels very good. It makes you just look at each other and allows you to nod in silence together. We make the connection that we did do our job to the best of our abilities and with God, prayer, the nurses and doctors, her brother Matt and his wise guidance, we, in some way, did make a difference in her recovery and will continue to.
The nurses in the ICU were so excited to see Allie and they clamoured around her and peppered her with questions about what she is doing and how school was going and when she dyed her hair red (yesterday) and she handled all of their questions very well. The ICU shook her up this time and hit her emotionally especially when she saw a guy with a fresh amputation of his leg, no dressing on just fresh healing. I did have to explain to her and with no disrespect to anyone that he was fortunate to be alive and that many people live active and fulfillinf lives with artificial limbs. She wasn't fully convinced but we moved on to the Rehab Center and saw her doctor there who was quite amazed by her and they chatted for 10 minutes or so. The rest was a lot of the same but the emotional ties are fading. NOw we have been here before but this time I believe we have crossed a hurdle that we never have to go back over.
You know, a lot of this was also to show them, to prove to them that she would make a full recovery let them know that if they would open their eyes and make a better attempt or take a different approach that they may have different outcomes. To almost sat FU, damn it, you were ready to give up on her but we were not! There, I said it. FU we will not give up them and we will not give up ever. Don't know where all that came from but it sure is what I was feeling. I guess the trip today stirred up a lot of the bad crap also but reingited out fire, our gratitude and our love of God. Thank you for this journey. I know it's not over but I now look forward to the rest.
As crazy as it may sound to many but today I was told that it is time that we all move on with our lives. I like the sound of that.
Before I go and I am sure I will always be back, let me tell you that I had the chance to hear Allie siong with her new instructor Kate this morning and I was floored. I have been told by two people that her pitch was perfect and that she is singing as well if not better than before the accident.
In gratitude, now and always
Allie's Dad
PS please pray for our friends Paige Cook and Rachel Juliano and please pass all of their names on to your prayer groups. Allie Cagen, Paige Cook, Rachel Juliano and all of their families. God Bless
It was inspiring at the hospital today. Not only inspiring but validating and in many ways the validation came from being recognized by many of the nurses and doctors for the control we had at the hospital and for the way we handled our daughters recovery. It is not that validation is needed but it feels very good. It makes you just look at each other and allows you to nod in silence together. We make the connection that we did do our job to the best of our abilities and with God, prayer, the nurses and doctors, her brother Matt and his wise guidance, we, in some way, did make a difference in her recovery and will continue to.
The nurses in the ICU were so excited to see Allie and they clamoured around her and peppered her with questions about what she is doing and how school was going and when she dyed her hair red (yesterday) and she handled all of their questions very well. The ICU shook her up this time and hit her emotionally especially when she saw a guy with a fresh amputation of his leg, no dressing on just fresh healing. I did have to explain to her and with no disrespect to anyone that he was fortunate to be alive and that many people live active and fulfillinf lives with artificial limbs. She wasn't fully convinced but we moved on to the Rehab Center and saw her doctor there who was quite amazed by her and they chatted for 10 minutes or so. The rest was a lot of the same but the emotional ties are fading. NOw we have been here before but this time I believe we have crossed a hurdle that we never have to go back over.
You know, a lot of this was also to show them, to prove to them that she would make a full recovery let them know that if they would open their eyes and make a better attempt or take a different approach that they may have different outcomes. To almost sat FU, damn it, you were ready to give up on her but we were not! There, I said it. FU we will not give up them and we will not give up ever. Don't know where all that came from but it sure is what I was feeling. I guess the trip today stirred up a lot of the bad crap also but reingited out fire, our gratitude and our love of God. Thank you for this journey. I know it's not over but I now look forward to the rest.
As crazy as it may sound to many but today I was told that it is time that we all move on with our lives. I like the sound of that.
Before I go and I am sure I will always be back, let me tell you that I had the chance to hear Allie siong with her new instructor Kate this morning and I was floored. I have been told by two people that her pitch was perfect and that she is singing as well if not better than before the accident.
In gratitude, now and always
Allie's Dad
PS please pray for our friends Paige Cook and Rachel Juliano and please pass all of their names on to your prayer groups. Allie Cagen, Paige Cook, Rachel Juliano and all of their families. God Bless
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Sunday, April 19th, 2008
Hey everyone. Just a quick note to say hello and let you know that everything is going OK here. Don't get me wrong, TBI's suck but everyday we make more and more progress. At sometimes it seems like we are going backwards and we probably are but that is the nature of healing.
Last week was spring break and Nancy, Allie and I went to the beach where we met Nancy's brother Mike. We love Mike. We saw that the weather was going to be iffey on Monday and Tuesday so we got spontaneous and drove three and a half hours to the Magic Kingdom and spent the day with Mickey Mouse and to top it all off we called my sister Roni who lives three and a half hours on the other side of Disney and she drove up and met us. It truly was Magical. Every day we learn more and more about Allie and her injury. Some days we cry, somedays we laugh but everyday we are grateful to have the opportunity. This is certainly the hardest thing any of us have every had to endure and it goes on and on. Someday we will reach our goal of Full Recovery.
After we left Orlando we drove north to St. Augestine, FL. What a cool town and then home again for beach time.
Allie is teaching me to be a better person but sometimes we fight and argue and say things that we shouldn't but we all get frustrated and it has to be very hard for a 19 year old to be around her mommy and daddy so much and to have her life controlled as much as it is.
Still very happy with the Neurofeedback and the progress we are seeing with it.
Love to All
Steve
Last week was spring break and Nancy, Allie and I went to the beach where we met Nancy's brother Mike. We love Mike. We saw that the weather was going to be iffey on Monday and Tuesday so we got spontaneous and drove three and a half hours to the Magic Kingdom and spent the day with Mickey Mouse and to top it all off we called my sister Roni who lives three and a half hours on the other side of Disney and she drove up and met us. It truly was Magical. Every day we learn more and more about Allie and her injury. Some days we cry, somedays we laugh but everyday we are grateful to have the opportunity. This is certainly the hardest thing any of us have every had to endure and it goes on and on. Someday we will reach our goal of Full Recovery.
After we left Orlando we drove north to St. Augestine, FL. What a cool town and then home again for beach time.
Allie is teaching me to be a better person but sometimes we fight and argue and say things that we shouldn't but we all get frustrated and it has to be very hard for a 19 year old to be around her mommy and daddy so much and to have her life controlled as much as it is.
Still very happy with the Neurofeedback and the progress we are seeing with it.
Love to All
Steve
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Tuesday Morning, April 7th
Hi Everyone
The neruofeedback seems to be working very well with Allie and the best part is that she does not struggle with it or give me a hard time when I want to train with her; infact, it is just the opposite these days and I believe that is one of the benefits we are seeing in this short time. In fact; she is not struggling with anything at this time. Don't get me wrong, there are still things to work on and will be for a while but her attitude is excellent and she is maturing as a person.
Other thing we have noticed is that her movements are more fluid and are becoming quicker, less thinking about what to do and more just doing it. Like not having to think to pick up a cup - use to be "pick up cup - extend arm, open fingers, close fingers, lift" - now pick up cup in one fluid motion. She is sleeping better, dressing better and doing her homework better. WOW! All in only 10 training sessions. Very worth looking into for all sorts of issues www.eeginfo.com
Right now she is in the den with a new voice coach. I can not believe how well she is singing. This time the tears are internal and the smile and hope are what I am wearing on the outside. I think she is singing in Italian and english. She is still having pitch problems but they are soing away. Hell, even if they never went away, just to hear the voice.............. but since there is never a doubt, she will sing as well if not better than she ever has.
Allie is doing well at her job and seems to enjoy it. She is working 6-9 hours a week in an assisted living facility. She is helping with the activities, calling bingo, helping people do puzzles, serving food and basically just being a friend.
There is just so much to say but it gets really into deep philosophy and universal principles that I will leave it for a discussion group.
As Allie would say, Peace Out!
Love you all.
Allie's Dad
The neruofeedback seems to be working very well with Allie and the best part is that she does not struggle with it or give me a hard time when I want to train with her; infact, it is just the opposite these days and I believe that is one of the benefits we are seeing in this short time. In fact; she is not struggling with anything at this time. Don't get me wrong, there are still things to work on and will be for a while but her attitude is excellent and she is maturing as a person.
Other thing we have noticed is that her movements are more fluid and are becoming quicker, less thinking about what to do and more just doing it. Like not having to think to pick up a cup - use to be "pick up cup - extend arm, open fingers, close fingers, lift" - now pick up cup in one fluid motion. She is sleeping better, dressing better and doing her homework better. WOW! All in only 10 training sessions. Very worth looking into for all sorts of issues www.eeginfo.com
Right now she is in the den with a new voice coach. I can not believe how well she is singing. This time the tears are internal and the smile and hope are what I am wearing on the outside. I think she is singing in Italian and english. She is still having pitch problems but they are soing away. Hell, even if they never went away, just to hear the voice.............. but since there is never a doubt, she will sing as well if not better than she ever has.
Allie is doing well at her job and seems to enjoy it. She is working 6-9 hours a week in an assisted living facility. She is helping with the activities, calling bingo, helping people do puzzles, serving food and basically just being a friend.
There is just so much to say but it gets really into deep philosophy and universal principles that I will leave it for a discussion group.
As Allie would say, Peace Out!
Love you all.
Allie's Dad
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Thursday Afternoon, March 26, 2009
Hi Everyone:
It's time for an Allie update. Well, we have gotten past the latest accident and have moved on to greener pastures. Allie is amazing and getting better everyday. Brain injuries are wierd but she is still growing everyday. Before where she was resisting growth and change she is now embracing it. I guess it time but I have been there before. In my mind I see her coming into the house one day and just telling us it is time to go and feeling comfortable because she has grown and recovered to her fullest potential. Proud and sad at the same time because for all of the crap and disappointment and frustration and not knowing that comes with a TBI, there is still that bond that you create, I will probably fall apart more on that day then even before but I see it in my head just as I see dancing at her wedding and attending her college graduation.
So how is this for no coincidences. After Allie's last accident, I was at my office on a Tuesday, (I am never in on Tuesdays). I was pretty much out of my mind and looking for help. I needed to find more therapy for Allie but when you are a high functioning TBI, you are forgotten, there is no help for you. The hospital case workers never follow up and if you are not educated and motivated - you are lost - God help all of those; we call then the walking wounded. On the outside they look OK but on the inside, things are not so good.
Well as life would have it the phone rand and it was an MD friend of mine (yes I have one) who called to discuss a mutual patient. He is also very familiar with Allie and her case. I told him that I needed to do something, wether it was send Allie to a school or hospital or something ( you don't know what or where because the doctors or neurologists don't tell you anything. This is not complaining but the truth for so many). He suggested I look into the Pisgah Institute and since I had never heard of it I looked it up on the internet and saw they were doing something called neurofeedback and were getting great results. Well I called them and spoke to some of the doctors and then started researching neurofeedbcak on line and saw there was a training seminar starting the next day in Atlanta with some of the pioneersin the field (Sigfried and Sue Othmer). Then I spoke with a psycologist in Asheville who had worked successfully with brain injuries and autism, so I was off to Atlanta. The training was great and I noticed immediate results on myself so we purchased the equipment and are now training at home. Allie has had five sessions to date and seems to have lost that far away look in her eyes and just seems more grown up and appropriate. I can't wait to see how it goes after 20 visits and 100 visits. I'll keep you filled in.
Also, Allie stated working at an assisted living facility this week. She is helping serve meals and is working with the activities counselor. I just love it that she is there. The people know her story and have embraced her. She is finishing up her second semester at college (she took two classes this time around) and we are thrilled. It's hard but getting better every day.
We want to give hope to everyone out there. If not today, tomorrow or the next day or the next day. We know what many of you are going through butonly to the extent that we have experienced it. This Saturday we will be doing a walk with the local brain injury association and Allie wants to walk for the Relay for Life. I have been taking her to lunch at an organic restaurant most days and she is starting to like it - hopefully it will be a new way of eating for all of us.
I just want everyone to know that you prayers are what have carried us. We think of you all each and every day. We ask that you continue to pray for Allie and for our good friends Paige Cook and Rachael Juliano.
Full Recovery - Never a Doubt
With Love,
Allie's Dad
It's time for an Allie update. Well, we have gotten past the latest accident and have moved on to greener pastures. Allie is amazing and getting better everyday. Brain injuries are wierd but she is still growing everyday. Before where she was resisting growth and change she is now embracing it. I guess it time but I have been there before. In my mind I see her coming into the house one day and just telling us it is time to go and feeling comfortable because she has grown and recovered to her fullest potential. Proud and sad at the same time because for all of the crap and disappointment and frustration and not knowing that comes with a TBI, there is still that bond that you create, I will probably fall apart more on that day then even before but I see it in my head just as I see dancing at her wedding and attending her college graduation.
So how is this for no coincidences. After Allie's last accident, I was at my office on a Tuesday, (I am never in on Tuesdays). I was pretty much out of my mind and looking for help. I needed to find more therapy for Allie but when you are a high functioning TBI, you are forgotten, there is no help for you. The hospital case workers never follow up and if you are not educated and motivated - you are lost - God help all of those; we call then the walking wounded. On the outside they look OK but on the inside, things are not so good.
Well as life would have it the phone rand and it was an MD friend of mine (yes I have one) who called to discuss a mutual patient. He is also very familiar with Allie and her case. I told him that I needed to do something, wether it was send Allie to a school or hospital or something ( you don't know what or where because the doctors or neurologists don't tell you anything. This is not complaining but the truth for so many). He suggested I look into the Pisgah Institute and since I had never heard of it I looked it up on the internet and saw they were doing something called neurofeedback and were getting great results. Well I called them and spoke to some of the doctors and then started researching neurofeedbcak on line and saw there was a training seminar starting the next day in Atlanta with some of the pioneersin the field (Sigfried and Sue Othmer). Then I spoke with a psycologist in Asheville who had worked successfully with brain injuries and autism, so I was off to Atlanta. The training was great and I noticed immediate results on myself so we purchased the equipment and are now training at home. Allie has had five sessions to date and seems to have lost that far away look in her eyes and just seems more grown up and appropriate. I can't wait to see how it goes after 20 visits and 100 visits. I'll keep you filled in.
Also, Allie stated working at an assisted living facility this week. She is helping serve meals and is working with the activities counselor. I just love it that she is there. The people know her story and have embraced her. She is finishing up her second semester at college (she took two classes this time around) and we are thrilled. It's hard but getting better every day.
We want to give hope to everyone out there. If not today, tomorrow or the next day or the next day. We know what many of you are going through butonly to the extent that we have experienced it. This Saturday we will be doing a walk with the local brain injury association and Allie wants to walk for the Relay for Life. I have been taking her to lunch at an organic restaurant most days and she is starting to like it - hopefully it will be a new way of eating for all of us.
I just want everyone to know that you prayers are what have carried us. We think of you all each and every day. We ask that you continue to pray for Allie and for our good friends Paige Cook and Rachael Juliano.
Full Recovery - Never a Doubt
With Love,
Allie's Dad
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Tuesday Morning, March 3, 2009
Just when you think you have have it made, a brain injury tells you different. Wow! I sure wish there was a TBI manual to help you see where you are on the road to full recovery.
Allie totalled out her car on Saturday - she is OK. She was driving on the same road as her first accident only about twelve mile in the other direction when she hydroplaned around a curve, spun out and hit a vehicle parked on the other side of the road. She was shook up - I was pissed. At first your emotions are how the hell could you be so careless, then you realize how this cahnges things again, then you are angry for a few days and then you look in her eyes and try to understand her emotionless responses and you see the injury still buried deep inside of her and you think about how bad you suck to have gotten angry.
Although she is up and functioning, the injury is so real and so fresh and you understand so little and then you wonder, what else can I do or what should I have been doing all along? Allie is among the walking wounded. She is a high functioning brain injury and that places her as one of the lost children. To high functioning for a rehab facility or school but not functioning well enough to have her own place or a job or the ability to take care of herself.
The worst part is the continual breaking of our hearts. We need help for her but it is not available - yet. We will find it and she will continue to grow and we will continue to love her and get stronger.
An exasperated - damn.
Allie's Dad - Full Recovery - Never a Doubt; This too shall pass; God's delay is not God's denial
Allie totalled out her car on Saturday - she is OK. She was driving on the same road as her first accident only about twelve mile in the other direction when she hydroplaned around a curve, spun out and hit a vehicle parked on the other side of the road. She was shook up - I was pissed. At first your emotions are how the hell could you be so careless, then you realize how this cahnges things again, then you are angry for a few days and then you look in her eyes and try to understand her emotionless responses and you see the injury still buried deep inside of her and you think about how bad you suck to have gotten angry.
Although she is up and functioning, the injury is so real and so fresh and you understand so little and then you wonder, what else can I do or what should I have been doing all along? Allie is among the walking wounded. She is a high functioning brain injury and that places her as one of the lost children. To high functioning for a rehab facility or school but not functioning well enough to have her own place or a job or the ability to take care of herself.
The worst part is the continual breaking of our hearts. We need help for her but it is not available - yet. We will find it and she will continue to grow and we will continue to love her and get stronger.
An exasperated - damn.
Allie's Dad - Full Recovery - Never a Doubt; This too shall pass; God's delay is not God's denial
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
0 comments:
Post a Comment